Working “Real” Wood

[RayH]

“Real” wood is city-boy talk for parts of trees, not boards at Capital City Lumber. I am asking for your suggestions on how to best cure/dry some for use (small turnings, band saw boxes, other stuff that comes to mind).

Visiting Halloween goblins just dropped off some tree parts for my pleasure. They were taken from trees that have been on the ground for about 4 months in the woods near Albany, NY. I do not know wood, but they are said to be: 1. Pignut Hickory (a 12 inch segment taken from a 14” diameter tree), 2. Ash (a 5’ segment of 7” diameter), and 3. Oak (a 15 inch long “Y” that’s 10” diameter on the large end). All the ends are chain-saw raw. The outer surfaces are still wet from their recent snow (one of the reasons I’m in Raleigh and not farther north). Species was determined by firewood cutters (a deputy US marshal and a computer system manager) not anyone who really knows woods.

Am I better off just parking them under cover for a while (how long) or cutting them to rough size now and then putting them in storage to dry? I do not have a moisture meter, but will probably buy one this weekend.

All information and recommendations will be greatly appreciated.

Or do I need some more new ?

Thanks,
Ray

[FredP]

for turning projects just cut them to a managable length then cut the pith out of them [no I dont have a lisp!] the pith is the center of the log that cracks radiate from. you can turn them to rough size bag em in a paper sack and let them dry before finish turning. for boards you would want to saw them up sticker em and let dry. If the logs are from limbs they wont make very good lumber. nice score!